Jose Valentin sounded as if he were on the brink of retirement yesterday in talking about a pinched nerve in his neck, but general manager Omar Minaya later insisted the situation is not that desperate.

Valentin said he was headed to New York as soon as possible for an anti-inflammatory injection, with the hope that it will relieve the pressure created by the C-5 and C-6 discs in his neck. If that doesn’t work, Valentin said, he probably would retire rather than have surgery, which would cost him most of the season anyway.

“I’m 38,” he said. “If I knew I would have 10 more years, I’d take the surgery. But now, just give a chance to a young kid, give him a chance to make some money. My career has been good enough. I’ll go to Plan B - coach, be with my family. Live ‘La Vida Loca.’ Have fun.”